Water elevator



Oct. 20, 1931. E. s. PATTERSON WATER ELEVATOR Filed Feb. 20 1930 mvsm-o dwz'n 4S. Palieraorg ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 20, 1931 PATENT OFFICE EDWIN S. PATTERSON, OF SHARON, PENNSYLVANI WATER ELEVATOR Application filed February 20, 1930. Serial No. 429,859.

This invention relates to liquid elevating devices of the type in which the jet of compressed air or other gas under pressure is utilized to elevate and discharge the liquid.

: I am aware that ejectors employing a jet or jets of air or steam under pressure have been employed to blow liquid and other fluid materials through pipes. Such devices, however, have required a relatively large volume it of air or steam suflicient to impart a high velocity to the liquid or other material being conveyed and to maintain a high velocity of flow to the discharge outlet.

I am also aware that water and other liquids have been elevated by air-lift pumps in which a column of liquid is caused to rise through a pipe due to a dillerential pressure exerted on the ends of a column of liquid in the pipe. The differential pressure may be created by exerting a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure on the body of liquid with which the lower end of the elevating pipe communicates or by exhausting air from the upper end of the pipe. In either case, in air-lift pumps, it is common practice to inject air into the lower end of the column of liquid to create a continuous flow of air upwardly through the liquid, the upwardly moving bubbles of air, by reason of their so buoyancy lightening the column and increasing the height to which the column is raised by the differential air pressure.

7 Ejectors such as above described are very wasteful of power by reason of the high velocity of discharge and the large volume of compressed air required to convey a given amount of liquid and are further obj ectionable for the reason that the liquid is delivered in a spray, the water and air being thoroughly mixed and the water being discharged in particles commingled with a relatively larg volume of rapidly moving air. 7

Both jet ejectors and air life pumps are far from satisfactory in operation by reason o1 their tendency to operate with a hammering action caused by periodic fluctuations in pressure with the result that the water or other liquid flows from the discharge end of the conduit-in spurts rather than in a steady stream.

The present invention has for its object to provide a jet operated liquid elevating device which requires a minimum volume of compressed air or other gas, which delivers the liquid from the discharge outlet in a steady stream and at low velocity without any appreciable hammering action.

A further object is to provide an air jet elevator in which a kinetic energy of the air jet is utilized to impart velocity to the liquid entering the pipe and to develop a continuous pressure head in the lower portion of the elevating conduit sufficient to maintain a continuous and uniform flow of liquid through the conduit and in which the buoyancy of the air stream flowing centrally through the liquid column serves to increasethe height to which the column may be elevated by the hydrostatic pressure developed by the jet.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention may be said to comprise the device as illustrated in the accompanying drawings hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the appended claims, together with such variations and modifications thereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention appertains.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which:

Figure 1 is an axial section through a liquid elevating device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged axial section through the combined suction and pressure develop ing section at the lower end of the conduit.

Referring to the accompanying drawings the elevating conduit is in the form of a vertically disposed pipe 1 which may be formed in the usual manner or sections of pipe of suitable length coupled together. To the lower end of the pipe 1, there is attached a tapering pipe 2 which tapers at a small angle from its lower to its upper end. The upper end of the tapering pipe 2 is of less diameter than the internal diameter of the pipe 1 and extends into the lower end of the pipe 1, the tapered pipe 2 being attached to the pipe 1 by means of a suitable coupling sleeve 3 which is welded or otherwise rigidly attached to the pipe 2 and which has an internally threaded upper end portion to receive the threaded lower end of the pipe 1. At its lower end, the tapered pipe 2 is of a diameter somewhat greater than the pipe 1 and has attached thereto a short pipe section 4 to the lower end of which is connected a perforated strainer section 5 which is connected to the pipe 4 by means of a sleeve coupling 6. An elbow fitting 7 is mounted in the pipe section 4, one end of the fitting being disposed axiall of the pipe section 4 and the other exten in through the wall of the pipe section. The elbow fitting 7 is COllJlGd to a pipe 8 which extends from a suitable pressure tank or other source of air under pressure.

A nozzle 9 is secured to the inner end of the fitting 7 and extends upwardly therefrom axially of the tapered pipe. The nozzle 9 has a tapering upper end with a small discharge orifice 10 through which a fine jet of air ma be discharged axially through the tapere pipe 2. The pipe 8 may be provided with a suitable control valve 11 for regulating the pressure of the air discharged through the nozzle 9.

The cross sectional area of the orifice is very small with respect to the cross-sectional area of the pipe 2 at the level of the orifice. The size of the orifice 10 will depend to some extent upon the height to which the liquid is elevated, the size of the orifice being slightly increased for higher lifts.

In all cases, however, the cross-sectional area of the nozzle orifice will be a very small fraction of that of the tapered pipe at the level of the orifice. The distance from the discharge orifice 10 of the jet nozzle to the upper end of the tapered pipe 2 is also important, since it has been found that hammering action will occur if the jet orifice be shifted too far away from the outlet end of the tapered pipe or too close to said end.

It is desirable that the air be discharged through the tapered pipe at a high velocity and the air should therefore be under considerable pressure. It has been found that the jet operates very efiiciently with a pressure of approximately 100 pounds. This pressure can be reduced considerably by adjusting the valve 11 to slow down flow of water from the outlet.

A jet of air under relatively high pressure will be discharged from the small orifice 10 at an extremely high velocity, reducing the pressure within the tapered pipe 2 so that Li uid will rise to the level of the jet orifice.

e rapidly moving air jet entrains the liquid and causes it to flow with gradually increasing speed to the upper end of the tapered pipe 2. The velocity of the air stream 1s sue that the air remains in a central column while the water flows in a tubular column surrounding the air. The air stream delivered into the lower end of the pipe 1 still possesses considerable kinetic energy which is imparted to the liquid through which the air flows and the air stream continues upwardly through the pipe 1 at the center of the liquid column. The liquid delivered from the upper end of the tapered pipe 2 has considerable kinetic energy due to the velocity imparted to it by the air jet and this energy is exerted in the form of hydrostatic pressure on the column of liquid in the pipe 1, this pressure being sufficient to force the liquid in the pipe 1 to a considerable height. It will be apparent that the air stream flowing centrally through the liquid column in the pipe 1 materially lightens this column and increases the height to which a given hydrostatic pressure Wlll raise the liquid. As herein shown, the nozzle orifice 10 is positioned at substantially the distance between the lower and upper ends of the pipe 2. The pipe 2 has a diameter at its up r end which is substantially one-half the diameter of its lower end. The pipe 1 is of an internal diameter slightl i greater than the diameter of the up er end of the tapered pipe.

It has een found that with an elevating pipe 1 inches in diameter, the tapered pipe may be of substantially 1 inch in diameter at its upper end, 2 inches in diameter at its lower end, and substantially 12 inches in length. The orifice 10 may be positioned substantially 8 inches below the upper end of the tapered pipe and the diameter of the orifice may be fromv of an inch to inch. The air is preferably delivered to the nozzle at a relatively high pressure, 100 pounds or over for most efficient operation. although the pump will still operate at a considerably reduced pressure, the flow of liquid being correspondingly reduced. The pipe 8 leads from a. high pressure tank and if at any time it is desired to reduce the rate of flow of water or other liquid being lifted, this may be done by partially closing the valve 11.

If desired, the liquid may be discharged from the open upper end of the elevating pipe 1 in which case the air carr ing some fine particles of liquid is discharged cent ally of the Water column while the water flows uniformly in all directions over the upper edge of the pipe. It is generally preferred, however, to discharge the liquid through a. suitable spout and in this case, itis desirable that suitable means be provided for permitting the air to be discharged separately from the water.

As herein shown, a suitable cylindrical chamber 12 is attached to the upper end of the pipe 1, being provided with an opening in its bottom to receive the pipe 1. The chamber 12 has erforations 13 in the up er portion of its side wall and is provide at its bottom alongside the pipe 1 with a discharge spout 14. The perforated. upper portion of outer casing 15 which has a fluid tight fit the chamber 12 is enclosed by an ,r

around the chamber 12 below the perforations 13 and which is provided with a central air outlet 16 at its upper end.

In the operation of the pump, the liquid rising in the pipe 1 flows laterally into the bottom portion of the chamber 12 and is discharged through the spout 14. The air carrying fine particles of liquid is carried upwardly into the upper portion of the chamber 12 where the liquid collects on the walls of the chamber and the air escapes laterally through the opening 13 into the chamber 15 and through the discharge opening 16. Any liquid accumulating on the wall of the chamber 12 flows downwardly to the bottom of the chamber and any liquid deposited in the outer casing 15 will collect in the bottom thereof and flow back into the chamber 12 through the perforations 13. The chambers 13 and 15 serve to effectually separate the air from the particles of liquid carried in suspension and to discharge the air and liquid separately without creating any appreciable back pressure on the liquid column in the pipe 1.

It has been found that the device of the present invention operates to elevate water rapidly with a uniform flow and without any material fluctuations in pressure and that a relatively small volume of air is required for the operation of the device.

It will be apparent that the present invention provides a very simple and efiicient water elevating device which is inexpensive to manufacture and which may be operated at small expense.

A further important advantage of the present invention is that rusting of the pipe through which the air and water is forced is eliminated. It has been found that the air passes up in the center of the water column and does not come in contact with the pipe wall and that iron pipes may be used for long periods of time without rusting,

' which has heretofore been considered an objectionable feature incident to the use of air jet ej ectors and air lift pumps in which the walls of the pipe are continually subjected to the action of air and water and are consequently quickly rusted away.

It should also be noted that the device of the present invention elevates the liquid in a column which flows continuously substantially without fluctuation, the flow into the inlet being uniform, the rate of flow increasing through the tapered pipe and decreasing in the elevating conduit into which the tapered pipe delivers. Consequently, there is very little agitation of the water or other liquid at the inlet such as would tend to cause solid impurities to be drawn up with the liquid and very little tendency for the water to dislodge solid impurities such as rust from the walls of the pipe. The device of the present invention is therefore well adapted for use in elevatin water from a well for household use or or handling any liquid where it is desired to deliver the liquid with as little sediment, rust or other solid impurities as possible.

What I claim is:

1. A device for elevating liquids comprising an upright pipe, a tapering pipe connected to the lower end of the first pipe coaxially therewith and having its outlet end within the first pipe and of less diameter than said first pipe, and a jet nozzle disposed axially within the tapered pipe and having a small outlet at its upper end for delivering a fine jet of highly compressed gas axially through said tapered pipe to entrain a column of liquid, impart velocity thereto and deliver the same under pressure into said upright pipe, said nozzle outlet having a cross-sectional area less than one-fiftieth of that of the outlet end of said tapered pipe.

2. A device for elevating liquids comprising an upright pipe, a tapering pipe connected to the lower end of the first pipe coaxially therewith and having its outlet end within the first pipe and of less diameter than said first pipe, and a jet nozzle disposed axially within the tapered pipe and having a small outlet at its upper end for delivering a fine jet of highly compressed air axially through said tapering pipe to entrain a column of liquid, impart velocity thereto and deliver the same under pressure into said upright pipe, the cross sectional area of the nozzle outlet being a very small fraction of the cross-sectional area of the outlet end of the tapered pipe and said nozzle extending into the lower end of the tapered pipe a distance approximately equal to one third the length of said tapered pipe.

3. The herein discribed method of elevating liquids with compressed gas which consists in directing a fine stream of highly compressed gas axially through an upwardly tapering pipe toward the upper outlet and thereof at a velocity sufficient to maintain a central rapidly moving core of gas surrounded by a tubular column of liquid at the outlet end of the pipe.

4. The herein described method of elevating liquids with compressed gas which consists in directing a fine stream of highly compressed gas axially through an upwardly tapering pipe toward the upper outlet end thereof at a velocity suificient to maintain a central rapidly moving core of gas surrounded by a tubular column of liquid at the outlet end of the pipe, and conveying the liquid and air from the upper end of said tapered pipe through a stand pipe coaxial with the tapered pipe and of slightly larger diameter than the outlet end of the tapered pipe.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EDWIN S. PATTERSON. 

